Folk Songs
The Cap of Broad Lace
Lace Cap from the Museum's Collections.
I have a sister, Mari, she has a cap of broad lace,
With the lace turning up
Rum–tee dood–lee da–am,
With the lace turning up and the lace turning down.
And a yard and a half of calico:
“Well how can I pay for it
Rum–tee dood–lee da–am,
Well how can I pay for it without Siôn finding out?”
“Well, get up early in the morning and stay till it’s late,
And thresh and winnow
Rum–tee dood–lee da–am,
And thresh and winnow the wheat until it’s done.”
Listen
The Cap of Broad Lace
SFNHM Tape 171. Collected 30.4,59 from Miss M. M. Williams (teacher, b. 1894), Brynsiencyn, Anglesey.
Notes
The song revolves around Mary's predicament over her new lace cap: how to pay for it without her husband finding out. In JWFSS, ii; 105, the text appears as part of the Anglesey song 'Cob Malltraeth'. Cf. also the tune of 'Y Cap o Las Fawr' with the music of 'Cob Malltraeth' in JWFSS, ii; 704–5, or in Song No. 17 above. Note, finally, the interpolated nonsensical phrase – a frequent feature in folk songs recorded in Anglesey.
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